Automatic space-parking garage



Aug. 31, 1954 R. H. J. SIMON 2,687,815

' AUTOMATIC SPACE-PARKING GARAGE Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 g- 31, 1954 R. H. .1. SIMON 2,687,815

AUTOMATIC SPACE-PARKING GARAGE "4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 Aug. 31, 1954 R. H. J. SIMON AUTOMATIC SPACE -PARKING GARAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 Aug. 31, 1954 R. H. J. SIMON 2,687,815

AUTOMATIC SPACE -PARKING GARAGE Filed Sept. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

respective car that that Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,687,815 AUTOMATIC SPACE-PARKING GARAGE Raymond H. J. Simon, Chicago, Ill. Application September 25, 1952, Serial No. 311,382

2 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic space-parking garages.

An important object of my invention is to provide a garage of the aforementioned character which is liftable in a vertical direction to the extent of one or more floors, or stories.

Another object of my invention is to provide a garage of the aforementioned character which has several floors loadable from the street level.

A still further object of my invention is to provide, in connection with a garage of the aforementioned character, hydraulic lift means which will operate outside of the confines of the garage to provide access to the upper floors thereof for loading and unloading automobiles.

A still further object of my invention is to provide, in a garage structure of the aforementioned character, turntable means on each floor thereof to distribute and place the cars on each floor in the most expedient space-saving arrangement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide foolproofing safety means on the said turntable means so that cars will not accidentally run off the said turntable means.

A still further object of my invention is to provide electrical control means for the operation of the said turntable means, which is accessible from the and which is positioned on the said turntable means and accessible at arms length.

A still further object of my invention is to provide hydraulic means for lifting a garage structure one or more floors.

.A still further object of my invention is to provide automatic locking means associated with the said garage structure for locking the said lift means in position when it reaches a particular floor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide monitor board means, or indicator means, associated with lighting means on each and every floor; the said lighting means being positioned over each and every car stall available on the floor, so that the monitor board may be utilized for spotting and notifying an operator on a particular floor, by lighting the light over the particular car is being called for, simultaneously notifying the operator on the floor that the lift is approaching, so that the operator may have the car ready on the turntable means available to be moved onto the lift platform for lowering and delivery to the customer.

A still further object of my invention is to provide door opening means which is electrically drivers seat of an automobile operated, so that the same will be maintained opened when moving cars in and out of each respective floor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide switch means which will operate the door means to each and every floor simultaneously, controlling the hydraulicmeans which operates the lift.

A still further object of my invention is to provide secondary switch means for controlling the hydraulic means which lifts the building one or more floors.

A still further object of my invention is to provide foolproofing means, including electromagnetic solenoid locking means to lock the switch means controlling the lift, when the switch means controllingthe garage lifting operation is actuated, and vice-versa.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel structure possessing the foregoing characteristics, which is simple and foolproof to operate.

Other objects and advantages inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols designate like parts, and in which; i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention with certain portions thereof cut away in order to more clearly depict the operative structural details thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, to reduced scale, indicating the hydraulic systems for lifting the garage building, and for raising the hydraulic automobile lift means.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the garage building in raised position and the lift at round level.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the floors in the building showing the means of access thereto through the hydraulic lift platform.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the locking mechanism utilized in order to maintain the lift platform in alignment with each respective floor.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken, substantially, on the lines 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the lines 1'! of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged illustration of the turntable means shown partly in section in order to illustrate the transmission or driving mechanism thereof.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken, substantially, on the lines 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the brush and commutator means employed to afford connection to the manually controlled turntable switch means.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections employed in my invention.

Fig. '12 is an enlarged electrical diagrammatic view showing the locking means for the lift that is positioned on .each floor adjacent the base of each doorway thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that my invention, which is generally designated 13, comprises a building It made up of structural elements such as guide rails 24 operating slidably in fixed rails 23 secured to the pilings 22 embedded below the surface of the soil to afford proper rigidity therefor; the said guide rails 23 being connected by a series of vertical struts 29 and reinforced by angle irons .30. Any other suitable structural method may be employed for the erection of the building M. The outer portion of the building Hi is preferably of concrete, and each floor is enclosed as indicated at and provided with a number of glass block illuminating windows 26. There are a number of upper floors designated l5, It, Hand I8 which are accessible through the lift platform 35, which is operated by virtue of a hydraulic piston 3'! being suitably connected to a hydraulic mechanism which will be hereinafter described in detail, and which operates in a hydraulic well'38.

The doorways of the floor 15 are provided on the sides with door enclosures 2'! in which doors operate slidably from each side in order to close the doorway i5, and close the samecompletely. On each doorway there is a locking means 28, which will be later described, and which operates in concert with a suitably mortised opening on the lift platform 36 soas to hold the same in positive locking engagemen while the cars are being loaded or unloaded fron the floors i5, it, ii and It.

The lower floors l9 and 2b are each considered street level floors, structure deemed to be an important feature of my invention; namely, that the lower floor 29 may be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the hydraulic means which is indicated; the floor 28 may be raised to the level indicated in Fig. 3 so that automobiles 635 could be loaded therein fromthe street level through door 85. After the floor 2!! is filled with cars, the building is lowered to the position indicated in Fig.2 and then cars are loaded into the confines of the floor l9. Thus, the garage building affords more than one street level floor of operation which facilitates the parking and delivery of cars parked for short duration or during rush hours. The remaining floors are accessible through the lift platform 36.

It will be seen that in the said platform a telescopic piston structure 6i! and 3! is operated by hydraulic means 48 in the well 355 through the agency of a hydraulic motorized pumping unit 53 which receives its supply through the pipe connected through the elbow 52 to the pumping unit 553 which in turn is connected to the piping 54; the control or check valve 55 connected to the piping 53, the elbow 5i and the piping 58 to furnish the inlet of oil below the bottom 59 of the piston 31 so as tocause it to be lifted. The oil is exhausted through the piping 59 connected through elbows 6t and '52 and the piping ti and 63 with a control valve 6 in order to govern the operation thereof. The pumping unit 53 is provided with telescopic piston structure ll equipped with piston-rings at to operate sealably in the bore of piston 31. The building M is lifted or lowered in order to make the floors it or 2!] accessible to street level 2| by means of hydraulic pumping means 83 which is connected to furnish an inlet through piping Mil, control valve I48, piping Hi9, elbow 39 and piping Mi, so as to cause the piston 3 3 to rise. The oil is exhausted from the well 35 through the connections of nipple 4| connected to elbows 32 and intermediately connected by nipple 43, in turn connected to piping '55, and provided with a discharge valve 36 so as to regulate the system to operate to the desired speed and afford proper hydraulic cushioning for the operation.

Thus, it can be seen that cars 5? will be elevated by means of the lift platform 36 to be positioned in whichever upper floor i5, i5, ii, it it may be desired through the operation of the hydraulic system hereinbefore described. On each floor, reference being had to Figs. 4 to 9, it will be noted, same as on the floor, It, illustrated in Fig. 4, that a turntable means Si is provided. The said turntable means will receive the cars from the lift platform 36 and then radiate to the proper position so as to place the cars 6"! in the most desirable parking stall, and at the same time compactly place cars on the floors iii evenly distributed thus using the space most economically. On each floor there is a locking system, which is of an electromagnetic nature, designated 28. The said locking system comprises an enclosure in which are mounted the electromagnets 69 interconnected by the strut Til which holds firmly the locking latch H which operates in the opening 58 and enters the opening E2 of the lift 36 whenever the magnets 65 are energized, thus, furnishing a safety means for cars to be driven in to'be parked on the floor.

Each turntable 3! is equipped with safety'means 33 to hold a car thereon to prevent the same from running off the'platform as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and '10. The same consists of a'rotatable platform i3 which is driven by the motor 82 fastened to the spider 83 located in the well 8 of the floor it A ring gear, or an annular gear 85 is secured in the well as and held stationary. The pinion '8] on the motor 32 drives an intermediate gear '86 which is pivoted to idle on stub-shaft 89 so that the turntable T3 is caused to'be motivated; The motor 82 is electrically connected to the commutator rings 88 which are insulated one from the other, and which are contacted by electric brushes 9i urged into contacting relationship by means of the spring 912 and secured to the support tit which in turn is anchored to the turntable means it. The connections from the brushes 92 to the switch 32 are indicated at M2 in Fig. 4; Thus the wheels of an automobile i4, when driven onto the platform, will enter first to run on the apron 8d resting on the floor 15 and pivoted at MS, which allows the wheels it to travel forward. The bumper iii, in advance of the wheel M, will cause the plate it to'be motivated to the dotted position by virtue of its articulate connection at 11. The plates iii and 8d are interconnected by linkage id articulately connected at it to the lug 8|. Thus, when the plate it is motivated from its normal position in full lines to the'dotted lines shown in Fig. 8, it will pull along behind the rear bumper of an automobile, the plate 8%, hence when the brake is put on the entire affair will be rigidly held in place on the turntable l3, allowing it freedom to be rotated to proper alignment with a particular stall in which the automobile is to be parked.

The electrical diagrams are illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12; the. electromagnets 69 as seen in Fig.

form 36 to a particular floor, it willalso actuate the proper bolt H to enter the recess 12 in the lift platform, The hydraulic means 53 is electrically connected to the switch I 04. Theswitch means98 is connected to the prime mover 94 and is connected through the lines91, 96 and 95 to the hydraulic pumping means 93 and returned through the connection I44, ,I45, and I46, the connection is brought back to the source of supply 94. ,The electromagnetic solenoid I01 is connected to the switch element 98 by means of the electrical connection I4I switch 90 and through the connection I02 going to the switch I 04 and also connected through line 91 back to the solenoid bifurcated locking core I06 to engage the locking tail I05 of the switch I04 and lock the same the engagement when the circuit is closed by means of the switch 98. Thus, each switch will operate to nullify the action of the other and vice-versa.

The bus bars I 22 are connected through line I2I to contacts I24 which close the circuit through contacts I 25 which ride on doors I22 and are connected through line I26 to lines I21, I28 to the source 94 whereas lines I2I are connected through lines I and I03 to switch I04. Switch I 04 has its optional terminals I09, IIO, III and II2 connected through line I02 and the reverse terminal I I4 through lines I29 and I30 back to form the circuit to the source 94. When the switch I04 is motivated the solenoid I08 will be energized causing bifurcated locking core I00 to engage locking tail 99 of switch 98 renderingthe same ineffective electrically or immobile. The switch 98 is connected to the source of supply 94 through line II 9, line 91, 96 to hydraulic pumping unit 93 and back to the source 94 through lines I44, I45 and I46. The solenoid I08 is connected by lines IOI, I02, I03 to switch I04.

The door means I23 is provided with contacts I24 operating on a bus bar circuit I22; the other contact being indicated at I25. Contacts I are connected through the Wiring I26, I21, and I28 to the source of supply 94 and the bus bar structure I22 is connected through the wires I20 running to theline I03 and to the switch I 04. Thus the doors are simultaneously operated when the switch I04 is operated when it contacts one of the points I09, IIO, I II and H2 for selectivity of the upper floors. The pumping unit 53 has its return connected to the source of supply 94 by means of the electric line II8.

A monitor board, or indicator board I3I is also provided on the main floor which has as I many buttons as there are automobiles placed on each respective floor. Each button I 32, I33, I34 and I35 corresponds to lamp I32, I33, I34 and I35, each positioned over a stall on the fioor where cars are to be parked, and each button is connected to its corresponding lamp as illustratively indicated for lamp I35; button I35 is connected to lamp I35 by means of lines I31 and I38 connecting to the button I35 and and connected to the I01 which is provided with 6 through connection I running to the source of supply 94, lines I36, I31, the circuit of the button-I35 to the lamp I35. Thus, if car located or parked under the light I35 is desired; the button I35 is depressed on the board I3I, the operator on that particular floor will notice the light go on-or flash, which will be his signal to take that car and drive it onto turntable 3|, wait until the doors I 23 slide open, at which time the lift will approach to alignment with the floor so that the car may be driven off by the operator onto platform 36.

It will benotedthat the switch means 32 is so positioned as not tointerfere with the driving of a car onto theturntable 3I, yet to permit the driver of the ear toactuate the said switch means for controlling therotation of the turntable means 3| without it being necessary for him to leave the car; in other words, it can be done from the driver's seat. 1

In actual operation during the rush hours, the parking will be done most effectively on floors I9 and 20. Loading the fioor 20 first from the street level 2I and then lowering the building by the switch means and hydraulic means heretofore described, subsequently, loading the platform I 9; during the day when parking is not required as frequently, the cars will be parked by means of the lift platform 36 on the floors I5, I6, I1 and I8 through the controls and means heretofore described.

Although I have herein described rather succinctly the nature and use of my invention so that persons skilled in the art will have no difficulty apprising themselves of the teachings thereof and, inasmuch as the disclosure is susceptible of various alterations, modifications, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all modifications, alterations, and improvements falling within the scope and spirit of my invention, as well as any modifications that are embraced suggestively in the accompanying drawings, and any that may come within the purview of the foregoing description; my invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Automatic space-parking garage, comprising a liftable building structure including a multiple number of upper stories and plural number a of lower floors, guide rail means vertically positioned outside of and secured to the said liftable building structure, fixed rails anchored below ground level and reenforced by architectural enclosure, the said guide rail means being slidably operable within the confines of the said fixed rails, primary hydraulic means for lifting and lowering the said liftable building structure, door means on each of the said upper stories, automobile lift platform operating adjacent'ly the said door means and outside the confines of the said building structure and used primarily to carry a single vehicle from the street level to any of the said upper stories so as to permit transfer therebetween, and secondary hydraulic means for raising and lowering the said automobile lift platform to alignment selectively with any of the said upper stories the building in its normal lowered position having the uppermostof the lower fiOOIIS aligned with: street level so that vehicles may be driven thereon directly from the street level, the remaining lower floors also being alignable with the street level, the horizontal dimensions of each lower floor I38 and I40 indicating aes'neim andwof: eacmupperrstoryrbeingzatmultipleoofz the-- length; and widttnof i'tliesaid lift platform;

2;? Automatic: space+parking garage,-. comprisingra.liftable2buildingzstructurezzincluding1a multiple 2 numberw of i upper: stories; and; plural numberz of. lowerxfloors; giuidez rai1..means vertically positioned outside-10f and-secured to the: said liftab-levbuilding. structure, .fixedxra'ilsa. anchored? below grounddewel iandjreenforced 'sb'yz architectural e-nc1osure-,-,the said .guideerail': means. being slid-.-

ablyi operablmwithin .theeconfihes. of the. saidfixed rails; ,primary; hydraulic: means for lifting and'ilowering the; saidwliitablesbuilding structure, door means; on each: of: j the :said: upper. stories,

automobilei lift; platform operating adjacently l5 the-z said door. meansz a-ndi outside the confines ofthe. said building:.;structure and. used primarily to carry-asinglewehicle from: the; street level to any ofzthezsaidmpperk storiesvso as to permit transfer therebetween secondary; hydraulic meanss'for. raising and. lowering the said automobile lift;.platform. to alignment! selectively with any; of.- the :said .upperrstoriesa-thecbuilding {in :its.

normal. lowered-position having, the" uppermost of: the? lower floors: aligned: with: street. level so".

th'at'vehicles" may: be; driven thereon" directly:

from the streetdevel, the remaining lower. floors; also being alignable with the streetzlevel,:,thes horizontaldimensions' of each lower-floor: and'zof: each upper story being a multiple, of the'length.

Numb'er. Name, Date 848,373. Ihlder etal. Mar. 26,' 19D7' 1,303,978" Smith. May20,11919' 1,768,360? Jenney June.24,' 193.0' 804,338 Henderson May 5, .1931' 1325, 142 Fournier Sept. 5, 1933) 1;969,002 Gleichman Aug. 7; 1934. 2,014,351. Becker Sept; 10,'.19'35' 2,627,942 Nash et'al Feb. 10, 195'3' 

